As part of the Cobham Uganda Partnership (CUP), the five-person party spent a week in Gulu at the site of the proposed medical facility.

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which is active in Uganda, has stated its policy is to target white aid workers, and current advice from the British Foreign Office is for people not to travel to the country.

But the Reverend Robert Jenkins, Rector at St Andrew’s Church, Leonard Beighton, a church warden at St Andrew’s and UK Chairman of World Vision and Jeanette Holt from Esher Green Baptist Church made the journey despite the safety issues.

Carrie Taylor, a teacher at St Andrew’s School who is hoping to forge links with the Ugandan school, and husband David Taylor, trustee of the African Revival charity also made the dangerous trip.

CUP was formed last year as a local response to the Make Poverty History campaign, and in conjunction with African Revival charity.

The organisation’s aim is to redevelop a school in the northern Ugandan town, and to add a health centre to it.

Many children at the school are orphans.

In the past two years, 12,000 boys and girls aged as young as seven, have been abducted and made to fight in rebel armies – often forced to kill their own family.

The partnership needs to raise £26,000 to build the health centre.

Mr Taylor said: “To date we have raised about £10,000 and have taken a lot of people out to see the school and medical centre and other projects.

“The traditional African-style tribal welcome we received was very, very moving.”

The group saw the site of the proposed health centre, along with its plans and costing proposals.

“In Cobham £26,000 would just about get you a garage but out there you can get a whole health centre,” Mr Taylor said.

“We hope to go ahead with the building as soon as possible despite not having all the money.”

So far, £10,000 has been raised and the partnership hopes to have the remainder later this year.

The group spent time at a World Vision rehabilitation centre for people who have escaped from rebel forces.

They also visited the so-called ‘night commuters’ – children of all ages who leave their villages, or live on the streets, and head to Gulu to be safe at night and shelter from guerrillas.

“The centre is called Noah’s Ark,” said Mr Taylor. “It was very moving, we saw children arriving dripping wet in the middle of a storm, having walked for miles.”

The party also paid a visit to an Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camp – a refuge for people driven off the land by fighting.

He added: “Just 15 miles from Gulu 25,000 people were living together in conditions that were just the pits.

“There is education for the children but appalling slum conditions.

“Personally I found it quite a shocking experience and I have been a few times.”

CUP has two upcoming charity events to raise funds for the health centre.

The Elmbridge Choir has arranged a concert on Friday April 28, and later in the year details will be announced for a Yehudi Menuhin concert.

The newly-formed choir, founded by Cliff van Tonder, presents its first concert, at the Leatherhead Theatre. All profits will go to CUP.

The programme consists of light popular music including a Lloyd Webber Medley featuring pieces from Phantom of the Opera and Joseph, an African version of Amazing Grace featuring Zulu harmonies and rhythms, and African dancing.

Mr Taylor said: “My appeal is to the Cobham community to help us find the remaining £16,000.”

For more information about the partnership, or to donate, call Mr Taylor on 01932 863128.

Tickets for the 8pm concert, £10, are available from the box office on 01372 365141.